Does American Idol Need Theme Nights?

Should American Idol Do Away With Theme Nights?

I assume American Idol initially dreamed up theme nights to keep the show feeling fresh from week to week, but sometimes those themes just weigh it down. Take last week's movie songs theme, for example: two Bryan Adams songs and Bette Midler's "The Rose." Zzzz. Even Motown night wasn't great, and country night is usually met with a collective cringe.

And then there's tonight's theme: disco. Something tells me this won't be pretty.

All of this got me thinking: Do we even need theme night? We are voting for a current artist whose job will be to record modern hits in his or her own style after winning — and ultimately, versatility doesn't matter all that much. Should we just let the Idol hopefuls pick whatever songs they want each week to show us the kinds of contemporary artists they plan on being? Or is making them jump through theme-night hoops more fun?

Why don't we have let the fans participate in the song selection??! Here's an idea!Each contestant chooses 3 songs that they would love to perform, songs they chose prior to the final 4 results is aired. During the final 4 results, we get 5 minutes (during a commercial) to allow us to vote or text which one out of the 3 they will sing during the final 3. This way the contestant is happy and the Fans are happy!

Why don't we have let the fans participate in the song selection??! Here's an idea!
Each contestant chooses 3 songs that they would love to perform, songs they chose prior to the final 4 results is aired. During the final 4 results, we get 5 minutes (during a commercial) to allow us to vote or text which one out of the 3 they will sing during the final 3.
This way the contestant is happy and the Fans are happy!

I am a little split on this. I think they need to do some type of theme but I think they should be more current- ax the disco, Broadway etc.I think when they get to the top 4 or 5 it should be them picking their own songs so that we can see what type of an album they are interested in doing.Right now I don't really know what type of an artist Kris or Danny want to be. I think hearing them pick their own songs would help sway my decision.

I am a little split on this. I think they need to do some type of theme but I think they should be more current- ax the disco, Broadway etc.
I think when they get to the top 4 or 5 it should be them picking their own songs so that we can see what type of an album they are interested in doing.
Right now I don't really know what type of an artist Kris or Danny want to be. I think hearing them pick their own songs would help sway my decision.

It's not really the themes that bother me, it is the same old songs they keep picking from the same themes that gets annoying.I wish they would retire songs, so that we don't have to hear "I don't want to miss a thing", "Jolene", and Mariah Carey's "Hero" a million times every season.

It's not really the themes that bother me, it is the same old songs they keep picking from the same themes that gets annoying.
I wish they would retire songs, so that we don't have to hear "I don't want to miss a thing", "Jolene", and Mariah Carey's "Hero" a million times every season.

My thought is the theme nights are to challenge the singers, outside their comfort zones. Those truly talented singers can handle songs in most genres. Maybe Idol just needs to put more thought into what the themes should be.
Disco should be interesting

My thought is the theme nights are to challenge the singers, outside their comfort zones. Those truly talented singers can handle songs in most genres. Maybe Idol just needs to put more thought into what the themes should be.Disco should be interesting

I'm over theme nights. I get that it forces the contestant to step out of their element but I've just found it to be quite boring....something tells me I'll feel the same way about disco night! The song choices are usually horrible during disco night.

I've got a love/hate relationship with theme nights. Without theme nights, I would have never heard Kelly Clarkson sing Stuff Like That There, my all time favorite performance. It's also interesting to see how the singers "buck the system", like Daughtry singing Walk the Line for country night, but not in the Johnny Cash arrangement, but Live arrangement instead.Most of the time, it's just awful. But there are a few shining moments that make it worthwhile.

I've got a love/hate relationship with theme nights. Without theme nights, I would have never heard Kelly Clarkson sing Stuff Like That There, my all time favorite performance. It's also interesting to see how the singers "buck the system", like Daughtry singing Walk the Line for country night, but not in the Johnny Cash arrangement, but Live arrangement instead.
Most of the time, it's just awful. But there are a few shining moments that make it worthwhile.

It really just depends, Most of the time I find that the hopefuls pick the worst of the worst to sing, and every once and awhile there is sueprise performance.
I however need to put my foot down about disco night. it never goes well.
Guessing mr mascara adam will pick the bee gees.

It really just depends, Most of the time I find that the hopefuls pick the worst of the worst to sing, and every once and awhile there is sueprise performance. I however need to put my foot down about disco night. it never goes well. Guessing mr mascara adam will pick the bee gees.

I never really thought about it until you brought it up, Buzz! But yes, I think I'd rather hear these singers performing a song that they liked or that meant something to them instead of watching them do disco. That's just unnecessary. How are you supposed to make disco current? Disco is dead!

I think they should pick songs that they want to sing and grade them off of that-2 people are going to go home because they don't perform a disco song well!? Is disco making a comeback soon? Is Adam Lambert going to put out a country record? Allison gonna do a Motown record? No. Its dumb in my book. But then again, I'm not in charge. unfortunately :D

I think they should pick songs that they want to sing and grade them off of that-
2 people are going to go home because they don't perform a disco song well!? Is disco making a comeback soon? Is Adam Lambert going to put out a country record? Allison gonna do a Motown record? No.
Its dumb in my book. But then again, I'm not in charge. unfortunately :D

you know, Buzz, you raise a good point
i will never buy a disco album from Carrie Underwood...i like her cuz she's country
i would never buy a country album from Daughtry...he's famous cuz he's a rockstar
you raise a gooood point. why make them do the most ridiculous themes? some are soooo boring! the best nights are the Top 40 nights or the iTunes nights where they can pick from a huge range and they sing CURRENT songs

you know, Buzz, you raise a good pointi will never buy a disco album from Carrie Underwood...i like her cuz she's countryi would never buy a country album from Daughtry...he's famous cuz he's a rockstaryou raise a gooood point. why make them do the most ridiculous themes? some are soooo boring! the best nights are the Top 40 nights or the iTunes nights where they can pick from a huge range and they sing CURRENT songs